Clasp



(No Model.)

J. H. PILKINGTON. CLASP.

No. 415,557. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

1m PETERS. Pmmmmgm hw. Washington. 0. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. PILKINGTON, OF \VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,557, dated November19, 1889.

7 Application filed June 24, 1889. Serial No. 315,335- (No model.)

'TO whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. PILKINGTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of clasps which are used so generallyfor necktie-holders and upon supporters forstockings and underwear, andhas for its object to simplify and cheapen construction, to improve theoperation in use, to greatly increase the durability, and, furthermore,to avoid all sharp rough edges and projections which have been such aserious objection in many of the various clasps heretofore placed uponthe market.

With these ends in viewI have devised the simple and novel constructionof which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, numbers being used to denote the severalparts.-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel clasp, the special form beingthat ordinarily used for necktie-holders; Fig. 2, a rear elevationthereof; Fig. 3, aside elevation of a form in which the clamping-armsare both curved slightly to partially inclose the spring, the shank ofone of the clamping-arms being made longer and provided with lips, bywhich it is attached to a web when used in a supporter; Fig. 4, a planView of a form similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, except thatthe side flanges are dispensed with; and Fig. 5 is a side elevationcorresponding with Fig. 4.

The device consists of two parts only and a spring, said parts beingmade alike, and therefore interchangeable when intended fornecktie-holders and similar uses.

1 denotes the clamping-arms, which are made of suitable shape to graspthe article to be held, and are ordinarily provided at their forwardends with teeth. These, however, are not shown in the drawings, as theyare in. common use.

2 denotes an ordinary coil-spring, which is provided withrearwardly-extending ends 3, which engage the inner sides of the rearends of the clamping-arms, thereby forcing their forward ends together,as is clearly shown in the drawings.

4 denotes lugs formed on the opposite sides of the clamping-levers,which, in assembling, are curved inward and passed into the oppositeends of the coil of the spring, there being two of these lugsnecessarily on each side of the clasp. It will thus be seen thatI doaway entirely with all riveting and fitting, and, furthermore, thatevery portion of the coil of the spring is left free, so that the strainin tightening is evenly distributed, the result being that the springdoes not grow weak and will stand an almost unlimited amount of use.

5 denotes flanges formed by turning over the metal at the sides of theclamping-arms.

These flanges serve as guards for the rearwardly-extending ends of thespring, and also give a very neat finish anddo away with all roughedges, the edges of my novel clamp being as smooth as the sides thereof.

6 denotes supports for the opposite sides of the spring formed bypressing in the metal of the clamping-arms, so as to partially incloseit. These supports do not clamp the spring tightly, but serve to retainit in position against lateral displacement.

It will of course be understood that my in Vention is equally applicableto all the various styles of garment-clasps that are in use.

- hen the device is used for supporters for stockings and underwear, itis necessarily provided with means for attachment to the Web. This meansof attachment, however, forms no portion of my present invention.

In Fig. 3 I have shown one of the clamping-arms as provided with a shank7, having at opposite sides lips 8, which are adapted to be clamped downupon the web. In practice these lips are often provided with prongs,which are pressed into the web; or they may be held by striking in themetal of the shank or lips, or both, upon the web with a tool, leavingone end attached. These various constructions are in common use and formno portion of my present invention, which, as

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already stated, is equally adapted to all of the various clasps now onthe market.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A clasp consisting of a pairof clampingarms having lugs 4:, and a coil-spring having ends 3, adaptedto engage the arms, the lugs upon the clamping-arms being turned Withinthe coil of the spring to hold the parts to- 1 o gether, and theclamping-arms being provided with inwardly-eiitending projections tohold the spring in position, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH H. PILKINGTON.

Vitnesses:

ROBERT ROBINSON, C. H. BRONSON.

